School Social Worker

Position Summary: The school social worker provides comprehensive support to students, families, and staff by addressing barriers that interfere with student learning. The role promotes student well-being through preventative work, early intervention, and responsive services. The social worker collaborates with internal teams and community partners to address social emotional, behavioral, educational, personal, family, and community needs.

Qualifications:

• Required:
  • Master’s Degree
  • Valid Wisconsin DPI License for School Social Work
• Preferred:
  • Experience in school social work or related youth-serving settings
  • Strong collaboration, communication, and problem solving skills

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Community Coordination and Resource Navigation
  • Act as a primary liaison between the school and community agencies such as mental health providers, county departments, the court system, law enforcement, and youth-serving nonprofits.
  • Conduct an annual update of community resource lists by contacting agencies, confirming services, and ensuring accuracy.
  • Promote community resources to families through district websites, newsletters, and social media to increase awareness and access.
• Student and Family Support Services
  • Collaborate with administration and Student Services team members to identify students and families experiencing hardship including abuse, violence, hunger, homelessness, or other crises.
  • Assist families in accessing supports such as food banks, shelters, transportation, medical care, and financial assistance.
  • Participate in weekly meetings with to discuss student needs and coordinate interventions.
• Assessment and Intervention
  • Provide social emotional screenings, suicide risk assessment, crisis evaluations, and referrals in coordination with Student Services.
  • Track student needs and follow up with targeted, ongoing interventions when appropriate.
• Advocacy and Equity Support
  • Advocate for students and families navigating complex or sensitive situations including disability services, limited financial resources, and limited English proficiency.
  • Help families understand school procedures, available supports, and their rights within the school environment.
• Mental Health Collaboration
  • Coordinate on site, Co-Located mental health therapy, including managing referrals, communicating with families, and completing necessary paperwork for program entry.
  • Maintain communication with mental health providers to support continuity of care while respecting confidentiality requirements.
  • Facilitate re-entry meetings for students returning from hospitalization or treatment programs and establish individualized support plans
• Social Emotional and Restorative Work
  • Provide direct support to students through individual intervention, small group counseling, and skill building sessions focused on social emotional development.
  • Facilitate student groups such as grief support, social skills, newcomer orientation, and other needs based groups.
  • Lead restorative practices including conferences, circles, and small group problem solving to strengthen relationships and reduce conflict.
• Attendance Intervention and Truancy Prevention
  • Lead the school’s attendance intervention process and collaborate with administrators and support teams to identify students with attendance barriers.
  • Facilitate attendance meetings beginning at ten absences and help create action plans with students and families.
  • Monitor attendance data, communicate progress, and document interventions.
  • Maintain consistent contact with parents or guardians of students with chronic attendance concerns, including home visits and follow up phone calls.
  • Complete county and court referrals for truancy cases and collaborate with deans and law enforcement when appropriate.
• Collaboration and Professional Engagement
  • Participate in district, community, county, and state level activities that support professional growth and strengthen school community partnerships.
  • Maintain accurate documentation of services, contacts, referrals, and interventions in accordance with district expectations and confidentiality practices.
  • Participate in building and district level committees as assigned.
  • Attend and participate in school events, meetings, and conferences as required.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned by school administration.
• Physical & Work Environment Requirements:
  • Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods.
  • Occasional lifting, carrying, or pushing of materials and classroom equipment.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in person, via phone, and through electronic means.
  • Work primarily in an office or classroom setting, with occasional outdoor supervision and off-site activities.

Terms of Employment:

• Contract Length: 195 days per school year.
• Evaluation: Performance evaluations will be conducted by the Building Principal or Assistant Principal in accordance with Hudson School District Board of Education policies.